Employers and Labour Advocate for Technology-Driven, Future-Ready Workplaces

 

Ghanaian businesses are confronting a fast-changing world of work where automation, digital tools and new business models are reshaping everything from how people work to the risks they face on the job. At the heart of this transition is a growing concern: workplace safety is not keeping pace with technological change.

This was the central message at the Ghana Employers Association’s second Occupational Safety and Health Conference, themed Future-Ready Workplaces: Advancing Safety, Well-being and Productivity in a Transforming World of Work.

Technology Is Reshaping Work And Introducing New Risks

Speaking on behalf of GEA President Nana Dr Emmanuel Adu-Sarkodee Afriyie, the Association’s Director of Industrial Relations, Joseph Kingsley Amuah, said rapid technological growth is changing Ghana’s labour market at a scale and speed never seen before.

From automation on factory floors to digital tools in offices, technology is improving efficiency—but also creating unfamiliar risks that many companies are not prepared for.

“The rapid growth of technology, the emergence of new forms of work, and the restructuring of enterprise models have created both opportunities and complex risks,” Amuah said.

He warned that workplace accidents, fires, injuries and occupational diseases continue to impose heavy financial and operational costs on businesses—costs that drain productivity and derail investments in innovation.

Businesses Need Stronger Safety Systems to Stay Competitive

Amuah stressed that Ghanaian businesses will struggle to remain competitive in an increasingly digital economy unless they strengthen their safety systems and embrace proactive risk management.

“These developments heighten the need for efficient regulatory systems and holistic approaches to occupational safety and health,” he said.

The GEA has institutionalised the annual OSH conference to help businesses, policymakers and labour unions reflect on trends and collaborate on strategies that create safer, future-ready workplaces.

The initiative aligns with global standards. Amuah highlighted the International Labour Organisation’s 2022 recognition of a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental right—placing pressure on countries and companies alike to modernise their safety frameworks.

Workers Feel the Pressure of a Changing Work Environment

Trades Union Congress Secretary General, Joshua Ansah, reminded employers that the future of work is already the lived reality of Ghanaian workers.

“For workers, the future of work is not theoretical,” he said.

Ansah noted that factory workers must adapt to new machines, office workers are dealing with rising stress levels, drivers face unpredictable risks and teachers experience psychological pressures.
Their well-being, he insisted, must remain central to any conversation about productivity.

“A workplace can only be considered future-ready when its people are protected, respected and meaningfully involved in decisions that affect their well-being,” he said.

He welcomed the conference’s focus on mental health—an often invisible but growing challenge in modern workplaces.

Technology + Safety = Productivity

Speakers at the event underscored a common message: Ghana’s businesses cannot fully benefit from new technologies unless they create safe environments that protect workers and boost trust.

Whether deploying AI systems, digitising operations or automating production lines, companies must integrate safety protocols, retrain workers and strengthen internal reporting systems.
Conference participants also called for stronger enforcement of labour standards and better collaboration between employers, employees and regulators.

In closing, Ansah delivered a reminder that hit home:

“Every worker who leaves home for work deserves to return safely, healthy and hopeful.”

As Ghana’s economy becomes more digital, the challenge—and opportunity—lies in using technology not only to increase productivity but also to make workplaces safer, more humane and more resilient.